Melissa is an educator, traveller, lover of good food and music and overall life learner. She is also a passionate advocate for spreading positivity, creating awareness and education on various topics such as disability, neurodiversity and promoting resilience and hope through adversity.
In May 2021, Melissa’s life significantly changed when out of nowhere she suffered a subarachnoid brain haemorrhage (SAH). Being in ICU and hospital for nearly two weeks and then eventually progressing to a slow and gentle recovery at home, showed her just how fragile and precious life can be. Her body was incredibly frail, still at risk of having a post-haemorrhage stroke, whilst her vision and mobility had also been impacted. She was unsure of how her future would look going forward. At the time when the (SAH) occurred Melissa describes herself as “being in a really great space in her life and incredibly healthy.” She faced adversities along this path, which impacted her deeply, however week by week, month by month, physical ailments started to improve, and her brain was on the long road to a good recovery.
Experiencing this life changing event, has steered her in the direction of putting pen to paper to write a book as well as create a podcast called The Brain Game Changer: how heartfelt stories, awareness and education can change the game. Melissa strongly believes ‘what she went through was not in vain and has a higher purpose as a result.’